Polymorph
Level 4 · Transmutation
- Concentration
- Save
- Buff
Polymorph (bard, druid, sorcerer, and wizard) casts from a 4th-level slot in the transmutation school. Cast time: Action. Range 60 feet, components V/S/M, duration up to 1 hour. Material: a caterpillar cocoon. Marked concentration. Effect: You attempt to transform a creature that you can see within range into a Beast.
Stat Block
- Level
- 4
- School
- Transmutation
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range / Area
- 60 feet
- Components
- V, S, M
- Duration
- up to 1 Hour
- Ritual
- No
- Concentration
- Yes
- Classes
- Bard, Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard
- Material
- a caterpillar cocoon
Description
You attempt to transform a creature that you can see within range into a Beast. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or shape-shift into Beast form for the duration. That form can be any Beast you choose that has a Challenge Rating equal to or less than the target's (or the target's level if it doesn't have a Challenge Rating). The target's game statistics are replaced by the stat block of the chosen Beast, but the target retains its alignment, personality, creature type, Hit Points, and Hit Point Dice. The target gains a number of Temporary Hit Points equal to the Hit Points of the Beast form. The spell ends early on the target if it has no Temporary Hit Points left. The target is limited in the actions it can perform by the anatomy of its new form, and it can't speak or cast spells. The target's gear melds into the new form. The creature can't use or otherwise benefit from any of that equipment.
5e (2014) vs 2024 changes
This spell has both a 5e (2014) and 2024 Player's Handbook version. Doungim shows the current 2024 stat block above. Differences between editions typically affect components, range, or scaling — check both source books for the table.
Doungim Lore
School Fit
Polymorph is Transmutation in its biggest moment. The spell rewrites what the target is — a humanoid becomes a sheep, an enemy giant becomes a turtle, an ally rogue becomes a tyrannosaurus. The new form's HP replaces the target's; when it falls to 0, the original creature returns with whatever HP they had before. Wisdom save negates if the target is unwilling.
Class Fit
- Bard: Bards pick up Polymorph at level 7. The combat use is straightforward: turn a boss into a frog for an hour of concentration, win the encounter without further input. The party-buff use is rarer but stronger: Polymorph an ally into a CR-equal creature for higher HP and different action options.
- Druid: Polymorph competes with the Druid's own Wild Shape feature. The advantage of Polymorph over Wild Shape: the Druid can target an ally, not just themselves. Most Druid builds prepare Polymorph for that specific use case.
- Sorcerer: Polymorph + Twinned Spell is one of the canonical Sorcerer plays. Two allies become two beasts of the DM's choice (CR equal to or less than the target's level), each contributing HP and actions for the encounter's duration. The slot cost is one 4th-level slot plus four sorcery points for the metamagic.
- Wizard: Wizards prepare Polymorph from level 7 onwards. The single most-played use is turning a tier-2 boss into a harmless animal for an hour of concentration, neutralizing the encounter while the rest of the party deals with the boss's minions.
Tactical play (Doungim editorial)
Polymorph the boss into a turtle, or turn an ally into a T-Rex. The turtle play needs the target to fail a Wisdom save; the T-Rex play is a willing transformation. The transformed creature's HP becomes the new form's HP — so polymorphing a 200-HP boss into a 1-HP toad strips most of their HP for the duration. Don't polymorph creatures with Legendary Resistance unless you've already burned their LR. Concentration spell — losing concentration ends the transformation immediately.
Related Spells
Frequently Asked Questions about Polymorph
- What level spell is Polymorph?
- The spell Polymorph is a level 4 spell in the Transmutation school. Bard, Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard all have access to it.
- What save does Polymorph require?
- Polymorph forces a Wisdom save. The DC is the caster's spell save DC (8 + proficiency + casting modifier).
- What is the range of Polymorph?
- Polymorph can target a point or creature within 60 feet of the caster.
- Is Polymorph a concentration spell?
- Yes — Polymorph requires concentration, lasting up to 1 hour. Casting another concentration spell ends this one; damage taken triggers a Constitution save (DC 10 or half the damage, whichever is higher) to maintain it.
- What components and casting time does Polymorph need?
- For Polymorph: Polymorph requires V, S, M; on top of that, Material component: a caterpillar cocoon.